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So many choices

Its always nice when you see an article that supports an idea you believe in. This one on the proliferation of wine brands caught my attention.

The following quote sums up the entire article: "Groceries have opened wine sections with up to 3,000 SKUs, and the TTB has registered more than 200,000 wine labels in just the last three years," said Barbara Insel, Managing Director, MKF Research. "The question is, do wine consumers seek this variety, or are they paralyzed by it?"

The paradox is that both are true. Consumers (thats you and me) ask for more choice, but, when the retailer responds, we're less and less able to make a decision - the sheer numbers become overwhelming. This is known as the paradox of choice. Something so interesting and integral to Snooth that it deserves it own post (soon).

But, back to wine. If grocery stores are carrying up to 3,000 different bottles, you'd need to try 60 a week to finish them in a year - just in time for next years vintages.

Replies

Blog comment by Snooth Blog Paradox of Choice, May 3, 2007.

[...] Paradox of Choice (which I brought up briefly in yesterday’s post) explains why as the number of choices increase, the ability for a person to make a choice between [...]

A very interesting subject indeed!
CHOICE...CHOOSING wines....I am yet to apply my mind to this huge subject,
but will take the challenge...slow and steady!

Demography...a field I worked in during my UN days....the demograhic picture of wine-drinkers comes to mind......20-35 are drinking what?

CHOOSING HOW??
Definitely looking at prices first of all. HERE IS WHERE SNOOTH COMES INTO THE PICTURE........SNOOTH CAN INFLUENCE CHOICE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, if only because
of the extensive and varied range of its contributors, the varying levels of experience...(ALL WECOME!), and the other major resources...articles, wine base, shopping details and expert
opinions and more (HOWEVER MODEST), it all adds up to a great STORE HOUSE OF WINE INFO ON SNOOTH ....pouring out at a fairly manageable pace!

I am quite avante-garde in some ways and so I have found wines in multiple unusual situations and made the effort to follow them. YOU CAN TOO!

On return trips from TAIWAN, I brought so many friends wines (WRAPPED IN BATH-ROBES) and gave them with a proviso each and everytime...."JUST BE SURE I GET A TASTE!"

VARIETY IS GOOD.
HAVING A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE AND MENTAL ORGANISATION IS A GREAT AIDE IN ATTACKING A PACKED GROCERY'S WINE-SECTION.

I HONESTLY DO NOT REALLY LIKE PURCHASING WINE IN A GROCERY.
Whenever I do...it is a special trip to the grocery to buy exclusively wine.
For those of you in LONDON and other parts of ENGLAND...it was TESCO, WAITROSE, SAINSBURY....all groceries. Then ODD-BINS WINESHOPS in most areas were quite satisfying .
I SHOPPED IN CHISWICK OFTEN. GOOD SELECTION.

In MIAMI...WHOLEFOODS...(GOOD SELECTION), PUBLIX....not bad for everyday wines.......
GREAT SOUTH AFRICA value wines...FANTASTIC, PLENTY OF CHILE.

WINN-DIXIE....a few pleasant surprises......many low quality cheap wines but in between.....a near gem of a wine from time to time! WILL RETURN TO CHOICE. CHEERS.....VIN SANTO AND ITALIAN COOKIES !!!